Eleven dead sheep were found in a meadow on the Witte Dijk in Sprang-Capelle on Monday morning. This was probably the work of a wolf, thinks Deputy Chairman Patrick Spierings of the ZLTO De Langstraat department. “This attack comes out of nowhere. In recent weeks, there have been no signs in Brabant that a wolf was roaming around.” The province has informed these and other interest groups and sheep farmers in the area and highlighted the dangers.
The way the sheep were beaten it looks like a wolf wreaked havoc. Spierings prefers not to go into detail.
The animals belong to a sheep farmer from Sprang-Capelle, who found them on Monday morning. The rest of the day he had his hands full getting rid of the dead animals. He also had to move another thirty sheep, which were part of the flock, to another safer place. The same wolf may have been sighted in Raamsdonk later in the morning, pictures have been taken of this.
‘Necessary measures’
Spierings hopes that not only other sheep farmers but also hobbyists will take steps to prevent further suffering. “This is a signal. People who have a pony or a few sheep should also pay attention. It’s everyone’s responsibility to protect those animals.”
The sheep’s deceived owner came into contact with Staatsbosbeheer, who has land near where the wolf allegedly struck. A Staatsbosbeheer spokesperson: “That contact went well, but I can’t say how he feels about all this. It is also up to the province, which is the point of contact in this”.
Informed interest groups and sheep farmers
When asked, a spokesman for the province said they had spoken to the owner of the sheep. Interest groups were also informed via the Brabantse Wolven Commission and sheep farmers in the area were updated via WhatsApp. They have been advised to fence in their sheep or take wolf resistant measures. You can get a subsidy for such measures, including grills. The Brabantse Wolven Commission includes the province and agricultural interest groups.
The spokesman for the province also reports that an expert from the BIJ12 visited to assess the damage. BIJ12 handles damage claims on behalf of all provinces when dealing with wolf attacks. DNA was also taken and will be examined by the University of Wageningen to establish that the wolf is responsible for the deaths of the eleven sheep. The investigation will last about a month. If it is indeed a wolf, the damage will be compensated.
In July, August and September there were some reports of wolf damage to sheep in the municipalities of Cranendonck and Heeze-Leende.
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